Fame can be a blessing and a curse. Across the world tourists flock to high-profile sites that the guide books insist are worth all the effort and expense, only to be disappointed by their own inflated expectations. Whether they're oversold, overrun or sometimes absent entirely, we've picked out what we think are the most overrated attractions on Earth that fail to live up to their often-enormous reputations.

Read on to see our ranking of the world's most overhyped tourist sites. To enjoy these images FULL SCREEN, click the icon in the top right...